Armed standoff ends peaceably

By admin

Created 02/18/2014 - 8:38pm

Adolfo Flores (center) was escorted from the front of Lomitas Mexican Restaurant Tuesday afternoon shortly before 5:30 p.m., by Chief Deputy Sheriff Brian Ricklefs (right) and members of the Iowa State Patrol. The man was taken to the Humboldt County Jail to be booked on false imprisonment, weapons and assault charges. Humboldt Independent photo by Jeff Gargano.

By

Kent Thompson

A standoff lasting two hours, ended peaceably late Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 18, in front of Lomitas Mexican Restaurant at 607 Sumner Ave., downtown Humboldt.
No shots were fired and there were no injuries.
Police were called to the restaurant around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday for a armed man holding hostages. The hostages were quickly released, Humboldt County Sheriff and Police Administrator Dean Kruger said.
After approximately 90 minutes of negotiations with law enforcement officers, the suspect, identified as Adolfo Flores, 34, Humboldt, surrendered peacefully.
Flores came out of the restaurant shortly before 5:30 p.m. He had been talking to Humboldt County Chief Deputy Sheriff Brian Ricklefs, Humboldt Police Officer Tom Nielsen and members of the Iowa State Patrol.
Authorities immediately handcuffed and placed leg shackles on Flores and escorted him into a police sport utility vehicle.
He was taken to the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked on two counts of false imprisonment, aggravated domestic assault, going armed with intent, carrying weapons and interference with official acts. The charges are merely allegations and all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Arnuld Galvan, owner of Lomitas, indicated that Flores is the husband of one of his employees at the restaurant and had gained access through her.
Galvan indicated that Flores had been threatening harm to himself and possibly others.
More than one dozen armed law enforcement authorities descended on the scene Tuesday, including members of the Humboldt Police Department, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.
Sumner Avenue was blocked off at the intersection with Sixth Street and a portion of Sixth Street South was also barricaded.
No word yet on when Flores will be arraigned on the charges.
See www.humboldtnews.com[1] for the latest updates on the incident.